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Explaining
Regeneration Preceding Faith
There is a lot of debate about which comes first, regeneration or faith? The Calvinist position is that regeneration must be in place before faith can be possible. In order to explain this, let me introduce an analogy using a light bulb. Also, when we speak of one preceding another, we are not talking about order in time, but order of necessity. Let me explain. In a light bulb, electricity must be in place in order for light to occur. But, it is not true that light must in place for electricity to occur. The light is dependent on the electricity, not the electricity on the light. Therefore, the electricity is logically first. That is, it must be necessarily present in order for the resultant light to appear. However, the electricity is not temporally first because when the electricity is present, light is the necessary and simultaneous result. When two things are simultaneous, one does not have temporal priority over another. So, when the electricity is present, there is not a duration of time before light occurs. It occurs simultaneously with the presence of the electricity. This is the same with regeneration and faith. Regeneration must precede faith not in a temporal sense, but in a necessary sense. In must be in place in order for believing to occur, but it occurs simultaneously with regeneration. So, logically, regeneration is first. Temporally they are simultaneous. Finally, when we say logical order we must clarify that it is not an order of temporality, but of logical necessity.
The following condensed paragraph can be used for cut and paste purposes in chat rooms. REGENERATION PRECEDES FAITH LOGICALLY, NOT TEMPORALLY. In a light bulb, electricity must be in place in order for light to occur. But, it is not true that light must in place for electricity to occur. The light is dependent on the electricity, not the electricity on the light. Therefore, the electricity is logically first, but not temporally first because when the electricity is present, light is the necessary and simultaneous result. Likewise, regeneration must be in place in order for believing to occur. When regeneration is in place, faith is the necessary and simultaneous result. Finally, when we say logical order we must clarify that it is not an order of temporality, but of logical necessity. Return to the Calvinist Corner Copyright by Matthew J.
Slick, B.A., M. Div., 2012
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